Latching device



ec. 15, 1964 w. G. ANDERS LATCHING DEVICE Filed Jan. 9, 1962 INVENTOR. W417??? 6 ,4/v0fiaf.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,161,427 LATCHING DEVICE Walter G. Anders, Tonawanda, N.Y., assignor to Sperry Rand Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 165,083 7 Claims. ll. 292--194) This invention relates to closures and more particularly to a self-contained latch device for closures.

'An object of the present invention is to provide a novel self-contained latch device for a sheet metal cabinet door.

Another object is to provide a novel durable latch device of relatively few parts wherein there are provided positive limits of rotation for a latch member from latch to unlatch positions.

A further'object is to provide a novel self-contained latch device which may be mounted flush with the outer surface of a sheet metal cabinet door and operation of the latch is effected through a quarter turn rotation of a metal operating disc with a coin edge or screw driver.

A still further object is to provide a novel self-contained latch device which is of relatively small size and is adaptable for attachment to sheet metal doors or panels of shallow depth.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein two embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a cabinet panel which incorporates the latch device of the present invention in an unlatched position;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the latch device in latched position viewed from inside a cabinet looking toward the front thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the latch device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a modification of the latch device shown in the previous figures; and 1 FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawing for a more detailed description of the present invention and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, one preferred embodiment of the novel latch device is illustrated mounted on the rear surface of a panel door 10 (partly shown) of a sheet metal cabinet (not shown). It will beunderstood however that the novel latch device may be used in a wide variety of closures wherein it is desired to maintain two parts in secured position.

Panel door 10 has an upper marginal portion 11 there-' of bent rearwardly and terminating in a short depending leg 12 (FIG. 3). When panel 10 is in closed position, leg 12 abuts against a flange 13 of a cabinet frame member 14- (partly shown). In the closed position the front surface of panel 10 is flush with the adjacent front surface of cabinet frame 14.

A latch mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 15 includes a latch bar or plate 16 mounted for limited rotation between a front or outer mounting plate 17 and an inner rear mounting or retaining plate 18, respectively. Mounting plate 17 has a bottom inturned marginal portion 19 (FIG. 3) folded back and against the lower rear surface of the plate 17. An operating disc member 26 having a slot 21 therein is spot welded to a front surface of latch bar 16 with slot 21 registering with a corresponding slot 22 in the latch bar to provide a bearing 3,161,427 Patented Dec. 15, 1964 support when rotating the latch. A circular opening 23, slightly greater in diameter than the disc 20, is formed in mounting plate 17. Disc 20 is positioned in opening 23 and extends therein to a distance equal to or slightly less than the thickness of panel 10. When disc 20 is thus positioned in opening 23, latch bar 16 which is of the same thickness as the mounting plate 17 has its front surface against the rear surface of mounting plate 17. Latch bar 16 has an arcuate corner portion 24 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which merges into a vertical-side edge surface 26 and a bottom edge surface 27. The upper end 16A of latch bar 16 is bent rearwardly to form an L-shaped latch projection 28. Latch projection 28 is provided with an outwardly indented blister 29 on a leg 30 thereof.

Rear mounting or retaining plate 18, looking at FIG. 3, is secured along the lower front surface thereof to the rear surface of marginal portion 19, as for example by weld 18A thereby maintaining the mentioned latch parts in assembled relation. An upper corner 31 of the retaining plate 18 is cut diagonally to allow the latch projection 28 to clear the plate during the rotation thereof as will be hereinafter described.

In mounting the latch device 15 on panel 10, a circular aperture 32 is formed in the wall of panel 10 to re ceive the portion of operating disc 20 that is exposed through opening 23 of the plate 17. The latch device is then spot welded or electronically fused to the rear surface of panel 10 in position whereby inturned marginal portion 19 of supporting plate 17 is parallel to the cabinet flange 13. In aflixed position the front surface of disc 2!) lies flush with or recessed from the front surface of panel 10. In order to rotate the latch bar 16 from unlatched position shown in FIG. 1 to latch position shown in FIG. 2 a screw driver tip or the edge surface of a coin may be inserted in disc slot 21 to rotate the operating disc 20 counterclockwise (FIG. 1) through When the latch projection 28 moves into latch position (see FIG. 2) blister 29 engages the rear surface of cabinet flange 13 to frictionally secure the panel 10 to the cabinet frame 14. In latched position the upper end 16A of latch bar 16 bears against the mounting plate 17. Further clockwise rotation (FIG. 2) of latch bar 16 is prevented by the engagement of the bottom edge surface 27 of latch bar 16 with edge surface 33 which serves as a fixed stop at the limits of movement of the latch bar. In order to rotate the latch bar to unlatched position from latched position the disc is rotated in the opposite direction until side edge 26 of the latch bar engages the marginal edge surface 33,

In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is illustrated a modification of the latch device previously described. A second operating disc 34 of the same thickness as disc 20 is affixed to the rear surface of the latch bar 16 as seen in FIG. 6 and has a slot 35 in alignment with slot 21 in disc 20 which is affixed to the front surface of the latch bar 16, as above described. Supporting plate 18' has a circular opening 36 to receive disc 34 which is rotatable therein. It is readily observable' that with this novel arrangement of parts the latch bar 16 may not only be rotated to latched or unlatched position in the same manner as above described, but also an additional bearing support is provided for rotation of the latch bar.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the novel latch device of the present invention eliminates striker plates or other means to engage and hold a latch bar in latch position. By providing a device wherein all of the latch parts are assembled in a self-contained unit any possibility of misalignment of parts is eliminated on a sheet metal door. This is accomplished by forming an opening in the door to receive the operating disc 20 and then spot welding or electronically fusing the latch device thereto as above described. In addition, positive limits for a 90 rotation of the latch bar are provided within the unit to eliminate the possibility of the latch bar being either in partially latched or unlatched positions.

It is to be expressly understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Various changes can be made in the design and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A self contained latch device for a sheet metal closure door having an aperture provided therein, said latch device comprising (a) an outer mounting plate secured to the rear surface of said closure door,

(b) an inner retaining plate afiixed to said outer mounting plate,

() a latch bar disposed between said plates,

(d) an aperture formed in said outer mounting plate and registering with the aperture in the closure door,

(e) movable disc means on said latch bar mounted in said registered apertures and having an exposed surface substantially flush with the front surface of the closure door,

(f) said disc means operable upon movement thereof to rotate said latch bar,

(g) first limiting means on one of said plates,

(11) and second limiting means on said latch bar, said second limiting means cooperating with said first limiting means to define the limits of rotation of said latch bar.

2. The latch device of claim 1 wherein the latch bar and disc means have registering slots for accommodating entry of a tool to effect rotation of the latch bar.

3. A self contained latch device for a sheet metal closure door having an aperture provided therein, said latch device comprising (a) an outer mounting plate secured to the rear surface of said closure door and having an aperture therein registering with the aperture in the closure door,

(b) an inner retaining plate having an aperture therein and affixed to said outer mounting plate,

(c) a latch bar disposed between said plates,

(d) a first movable disc means on one side of said latch bar mounted in said registered apertures of said outer plate and the closure door and having an exposed surface substantially fiush with the front surface of said closure door,

(e) said first disc means operable upon movement thereof to rotate said latch bar,

(f) a second movable disc means on the opposite side of said latch bar mounted in said inner retaining plate aperture to provide for rotation of said latch bar upon movement of said second disc means,

(g) first limiting means on one of said plates,

(h) and second limiting means on said latch bar, said second limiting means cooperating with said first limiting means to define the limits of rotation of said latch bar.

4. The latch device of claim '3 wherein the latch bar, first disc means and second disc means have registering slots for accommodating entry of a tool to effect rotation of the latch bar.

5. A self contained latch device for a sheet metal closure door having an aperture provided therein, said latch device comprising (a) an outer mounting plate secured to the rear surface of said closure door and having an aperture therein registering with the aperture in the closure door,

(b) an inner mounting plate affixed to said outer plate,

(c) a latch plate disposed between said mounting plates and having straight edges except at one corner which is arcuate shaped,

(d) movable disc means on said latch bar mounted in said registered apertures of said outer mounting plate and closure door and having an exposed surface substantially flush with the front surface of the closure door,

(2) said disc means operable upon movement thereof to rotate said latch plate,

(f) and one of said mounting plates having a straight edge marginal portion disposed in the plane of the latch plate to engage the straight edges of the latter to thereby limit rotation of said latch plate.

6. The latch device of claim 5 wherein (a) the latch plate has parallel side edges and a third edge extending normal to the parallel side edges,

(b) the arcuate corner being formed at an intersection of said third edge with one of said parallel side edges,

(0) said one side edge engaging the marginal edge portion of said one mounting plate in unlatched position and the third edge engaging said marginal edge portion in latched position.

7. A self contained latch device for a sheet metal closure door having an aperture provided therein, said latch device comprising,

(a) a rectangular outer mounting plate secured to the rear surface of said closure door and having an aperture therein registering with the aperture in the closure door,

(b) said outer mounting plate having an inturned marginal portion,

(0) a rectangular inner mounting plate affixed to said inturned marginal portion,

(d) a latch bar disposed between said mounting plates and having parallel straight side edges and a third edge extending normal to said parallel side edges,

(e) an arcuate corner formed on said latch bar at an intersection of said third edge with one of said parallel side edges and arranged in the plane of said inturned marginal portion,

(1) a movable slotted disc on said latch bar and mounted in said registered apertures of said outer mounting plate and closure door and having an exposed surface substantially flush with the front surface of the closure door,

(g) said disc operable upon movement thereof to rotate said latch plate between latched and unlatched positions,

(h) one of said parallel side edges of said latch bar engaging the inturned marginal portion of said outer mounting plate in unlatched position and the third edge engaging said inturned marginal edge portion in the latched position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,634,918 Steinman July 5, 1927 1,796,490 Sullivan Mar. 17, 1931 1,973,251 Hayden Sept. 11, 1934 2,272,145 Anderson et a1 Feb. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,848 Great Britain 1910 

1. A SELF CONTAINED LATCH DEVICE FOR A SHEET METAL CLOSURE DOOR HAVING AN APERTURE PROVIDED THEREIN, SAID LATCH DEVICE COMPRISING (A) AN OUTER MOUNTING PLATE SECURED TO THE REAR SURFACE OF SAID CLOSURE DOOR, (B) AN INNER RETAINING PLATE AFFIXED TO SAID OUTER MOUNTING PLATE, (C) A LATCH BAR DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID PLATES, (D) AN APERTURE FORMED IN SAID OUTER MOUNTING PLATE AND REGISTERING WITH THE APERTURE IN THE CLOSURE DOOR, (E) MOVABLE DISC MEANS ON SAID LATCH BAR MOUNTED IN SAID REGISTERED APERTURES AND HAVING AN EXPOSED SURFACE SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE FRONT SURFACE OF THE CLOSURE DOOR, (F) SAID DISC MEANS OPERABLE UPON MOVEMENT THEREOF TO ROTATE SAID LATCH BAR, (G) FIRST LIMITING MEANS ON ONE OF SAID PLATES, (H) AND SECOND LIMITING MEANS ON SAID LATCH BAR, SAID SECOND LIMITING MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID FIRST LIMITING MEANS TO DEFINE THE LIMITS OF ROTATION OF SAID LATCH BAR. 